Locomotive tender



May 23.', 1939- E. E. HlcKE'N LocoMoTIvE TENDER 4Filed Feb. 27, 193e 9 Sheets-Sheet' l INVENTOR Elmer E. Hcln May 23, 1939 E. E. HlcKr-:N

` LQcoMoTIvE TENDER Filed Feb. 27, 1936 9 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Elmer E.H\cl en May 23, 1939- E. HlcKEN 2,159,738

LocoMoTIvE TENDER Filed Feb. 27, 1936 9 sheets-sheet s INVENTQR Y Elmer' E.H'|cl en 'K E. E. H|KEN '2,159,738

LocoMTIVE TENDER` May 23, 1939;

' Elmer E.H|cken Patented May z3, 1939 UNITED [STATES PATENT ori-"ics 12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a frame and tank for locomotivetenders and more particularly to an improved combination of structural shapes and plates so formed and interrelated that the same mayv beV effectively assembled and welded together to form an eicient integral structure. l

Heretofore it has been customary to make a tender frame of an integral steel casting to which weight due to the thickness of the sections and' is practically prohibitive in cost when an order for a single tender is required. Such prohibitive cost is due to requiring a complete set of patterns or core boxes which would only be used once.

It is one object of my invention to provide a tender having an underframe that is less expensive and yet fully as effective as cast underrames and one that can be` applied to an order for a single tender at a reasonable cost. To accomplish this I utilize novel forms and arrangements of shapes and: plates so interconnected and related that they may be eiilciently and effectively welded to form the underframe and tank in a-manner which creates a very effecimproved coal slide guide stiil'ener taken onlines.

4 4 of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective looking down onl my" improved underframe shownpartly in section and wtih certain parts omittedfor clarity;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective with 4parts broken away to show the details of Cal , Fig. 'l is an enlarged fragmentary broken away. `perspective of my improved bolster; .1

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspectives of the upper'- and 60 lower T members of the bolster; 4

is secured a tank consisting of structural shapes and plates riveted or welded to each other and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substanV construction of the rear draft Arigging and its (Cl. 10S-414) Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line Ill- III of Fig. 7;

Fig. 1'1 is a-'longitudinal section taken on the line |.l--II of Fig. 5 and on line Il of Fig. 7 and showing a top illler piece which is omitted from -Y-Figs. 5 and '7 for clarity;

Fig. v12 is a horizontal section taken on the line IIL-I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal vertical section showing :ap-modified form of bolster, the location'. of the section Vcorresponding generally to that of Fig. 10 on line lli- I0 of Fig. 7;

Fig. k14-is a--f'urther modified form of bolster construction, the view being taken transversely of the-'underframe on the line M-il of Fig. 15; Fig. 15 is a longitudinal vertical section taken Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective partly broken away to show details of construction of.

Fig. 21 is a-perspective of the other side piece or sill which is complementary to the side piece shown in Fig. 18; together with my improved tank valve well on the outside of-the side piece;

Fig. 22 is an end elevation of the rear draft rigging housing, partly. broken away to show details of construction;

Fig. 23 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line. 2&-28 of Fig. 22.

In the particular embodiment of the invention, such as is disclosed herein merely for the purposeof illustrating one specific formamong possible others that the invention might take in practice, I have showninvFig. 1 an underframe generally indicated at I carrying a tank grenerall'y indicated at 2. 'Ihe underframe 4l as more clearly shown in Fig. 5 includes two longitudinallabeams 3 forming center sills extending for the entire lengthoi the frame by passing through a "front end sill 4 and a rear end sill 5, both of which end sills are I-bea'ms. The end sills are ot slightly greater depth than the center sills-3 to permit the web of the end sill I-beams to be" cut out to the cross-sectional shape of the center .sills to receive .the same.. Two side sills 6 extend lfor the entire length of the underframe but terminatein abutting' relation to the end sills adjacent their ends and just beneath; the -upperilanges thereof. As shown in Fig. 5:3 the side sills i are approximately only one-halfthe a bottom cover plate generally indicated at9. This bottom plate is not continuous but is in three sections for reasons which will be noted later. However, it will be noted in Fig. 5 that this plate is supported against the under side of the lower flanges of center sills 3 While the outer edges of the bottom plate rest on top of the lower flanges of side sills- 6. 'I'his bottom plate is relatively much thicker than the balance of the tank' structure which will be .described hereinafter as it must carry the weight of the water between unsupported points. One section of the bottom plate extends from end sill 4 to a front bolster IIJ, Fig. 1. Another section extends from/bolster I 8 to a rear-bolster while the third section extends from bolster II to rear end sill 5.

The bolsters III and II are identical in construction and hence it will suffice to describe only one which is shown in Figs. 7, 10 and 11. Referring to Fig. '1, the bolster comprises two upper Ts I2 and I3 extending transversely Iof the under frame. These Ts are spaced with respect to the longitudinal axis of the under frame. The stem I4 of each T is coped as indicated at I5, Fig. 8, to ilt around the top flange of side sills 6 while the intermediate portion I6 is coped to fit around the top flange and web of the center sills 3. The Ts I2 and I3 are placed in their assembled position by being slipped over the ends of the sills. A pair of lower Ts I1 and I8, Fig. 10, are provided in vertically opposed relation `to the upper Ts I2 and I3. However, the lower Ts have a horizontal central portion immediately below the center sills and then are bent upwardly as indicated at I9, Figs. 7 and 9. The outer ends of the Ts |1 and I8 are coped as indicated at 20, Fig. 9, torest upon and t around the upper surface of the lower flanges of side sills 6. The coping 2li is such that the ends 2| of the outside T flange abut against the edge of the lower flange of the side sills 6. 'I he stem 22 is coped at two places as indicated at 23 to t around the lower flanges and web portions of the center sills 3 in the same manner that the upper Ts I2 and I3 are coped. The lowermost portion of the openings 23 is spaced as indicated at 24 from the T flanges to permit bottom plate 9 to be interposed between the T flangesA and the bottom of the center sills. The inner flange 25 extends only across the bottom of center sills 3 whereas the outer flange 26 extends for the full length of the` Ts. As shown in Figs. 11 and .12, a rectangular plate 28 is interposed between the lower flanges of center sills 3 and the shortened T flanges 25, thereby providing a base for a center pin l29, Fig. 11.

As shown in Figs. '1, 9 and 11, the short flanges 25 of Ts I1 and I8 extend toward each other beneath plate 28, while the fulll length flanges 26 extend away from each other to support the various portions of the mainbottom walls 9;

Ihe base plate 28 and the Ts I2, |3, I1 and I8 are all vertically reinforced in` the following manner. of the opposed Ts in the' space between the center sills 3.' These vertical plates have been omitted from Fig. 7 f or clarity. Similar vertical plates -3|,Fig. 10, extending from the outside of the center sills to the inside of the side sills 6, connect the stems of the remaining portion of the upper and lower Ts. Such plates may be laid fiat against the sides of the stems as it will be noted in Figs. '1 and 9 that the lower stems are cut as at 32 to permit the upper and lower stems Vertical plates 3| connect the stems to contact inl aligned relation witheach 'other at their outer ends. To directly reinforce the center plate 28, a vertical plate 33, Figs. 11 and 12, extends transversely between the webs of center sills 3. Similar plates 34 and 35 extend between plates 3| and 33 at right angles thereto. In plan view as shown in Fig. 12, plates 33, 34 and 35 form a cross, thereby firmly supporting base plate 28, Figs. 11 and 12.`

To laterally reinforce thevertical plates 3| which connect the stems ofl Ts I2, I3, I1 and I8 and also to provide side bearings for trucks,

AI have provided as shown in Fig. 10 a horizontal H vbeam 31 whose flanges are supported against plates 3|. These H beams 31 extend horizontally from the outer surface of the web of cen-y ter sills 3 outwardly to the inner surface of the Web of `side sills 6. The lower flange of the H beam near. side sills 6 istapered at 38, Fig. '7, to permit the H-web to rest on the inner surface of the lower'flange of the side sills 6. Wearing plates 39 for a. side bearing 40 of a truck are disposed on the under side of the web of H beams 31. Ample room is provided to receive the side bearings 40 due to the factthat the innerY `Ts |13 and I1 and I 2-and I8. The outer ends of the H-beams 31' and the lower flanges thereof adjacent the side sills will be tapered in the same manner as indicated at 38 in the Fig. 7 form.

In thestill further modification as shown 1n Figs. 14 and 15, there is substituted for Ts I2, I3, I1 and I8 a palr'of I beams 43 and 44, Fig. 15. To adapt the I beams to the tapered construction of the bolster,` a plain I beam of greater depth than center sills 3 has its web cut out and coped around the transverse configuration of the center sills 3-3 as indicated at 45, Fig. 14, whereby the I beam rests .directly on the top flange of center sills 3 'Ihe lower .flange 5| of theI beam is spaced from the lower flanges of the center sills 3 to permit insertion of the lower cover plate or tankbottom 9. To create the tapered formation 41, Fig. 14 a long V portion indicated by dot-dash lines` 48 is cut out of the web of the -plain I beam after which the lower `portion of the I beam adjacent the center sills portion of the lower flange of the I beams is l cut off as indicated at 5I, Fig'. 15, this cut-out portion extending from the center sills 3 outwardly to the side sills 6, thereby providing a clear Aspace to receive and permit free movement of the truck` side bearing 52. An H beam 53 corresponding to H beams 31 and 31', Figs.l '1, 10 and 13,is supported against the inner surfaces of the webs of I beams 43 and 44, thereby providing as shown in the previous modification a suitable support for a wearingplate 54 for the truck side vbearings 52, in 'addition to providing a cooperative reinforcing action between the vary and also extends between the flanges of the Ts I2 and I3. In other words, lsuch a filler plate rests in a recess 51, Fig. 7. The purpose of this filler plate is to form a continuous top cover plateand to resist the compression strains therein. It wil1,.of course, be understood that this plate is welded at all lines of juncture with the other component parts of the structure. Likewise all other component parts of the structure are weldedalong their lines of juncture, although y in some instances where leakproof joints are not necessary the welding may be either partially or wholly omitted depending upon the stress relation of the parts. It will be noted however, that the various parts have been so formed and constructed and interrelated that they are conducive to efficient and effective welding ofthe parts so as to insure minimum weight consistent with maximum strength. As a further illustration of the manner in which the parts `are formed, so as to be conducive to strength, a bolster cover plate 58, Figs. 2 and 11, extends across the top flanges of Ts I2 and I 3 for a substantial portion of their length-but .terminating short thereof as indicated at 59 in Fig. 2. The bolster cover plate 58 extends only'over the rear bolster Il, Fig. 2. The

forward bolster I0 is not provided with a cover plate 58 but has a longitudinally rectangular center sill top cover plate 6D, Fig. 2, extending from a T 8|, Fig. 5, forwardly to the front end; sill 4. It will be noted that the dimension between the edges 62 of this cover plate is less than that between the edges 59 of cover plate 58. The purpose of cover plate 60 is to form the bottom of a stoker trough and to separate thetrough from the'surrounding water space. It will be understood that cover plate 68 is formed in three sections, one extending between T 6I and the left edge of bolster I8, Figs. 3 and 5. one extending between'the bolster Ts I2 and I3 of forward bolster I8, and the other extending from the right edge of'bolster I8 to the front` end sill.

These sections are necessitated due to the crossv with a reinforcing plate 58 as previously described. The T 6|, Figs. land 5, forms. a base for the vertial rend- `plate 6| of the Stokertrough. The T is coped in similar manner to the .top bolster Ts I2 and'l3, Fig. 8. and is posi- Y tioned on center sills 3-3 before forward bolster I0 is assembled. i

Front draw bar housing- This is shown generally in end elevation in Fig. 3 and in the brokenperspective of Fig. 16 while component parts are shown in'Figs. 18 to 21. The housing comprises two vertical side pieces or sills 18 and 1 I, Figs. 18 and 21, a member having a combined bottom 12 and back 13, Fig. 19, and one intermediate member 14, Figs.,20 and 16. The side pieces are of generally triangular. shape, their upper edges extending upwardly through longitudinal slots 15 formed in the lower cover plate A9 along the outer edges of the lower flanges of the lower fianges of the side sills 3 as indicatedV at 16,`Fig. 16. If desired, the flanges 16 may be preformed on the side pieces before assembling,

in which case the side pieces would be assembled, by initially placing them in a horizontal position and entering the flanges V16 in slots 15 and then working the same therethrough and over the center sill flanges until the side pieces are in a vertical position. The intermediate plate 14 is next assembled with back portion 13 by lextending a nanged tongue 18 through a suitable slot 19, Figs. 19 and 20. These members are then inserted between the side pieces 18 and 1I and interconnected through suitable tongues 89 and slots 8|. 'I'he upper edge of back"13 is also provided with a tongue 82 that extends upwardly through a slot 83, Fig. 16, between the inner edges of the lower'fianges of center sills 3, 3.

'I'he remaining .vertical edge 8l, Fig. 19, of the back piece 13 will thereupon abut against the arev then iirrniy held together and welded along any or all of their lines of juncture or otherwise suitably secured.

Suitable drawbar pin bushings 86; Fig. 11, are set up in rectangular openings 81, Figs. 19 and 2O and provided withf'a slightly tapered forward lip 88 on which the drawbar slides when the .tender is connected to the engine. An uppermost bushing B9 is not provided with a lip such as 88 inasmuch' as bushing `89 is received in a recess in the bottom cover 9 and inner flange of the center sill 3.

Due to the stoker mechanism being located immediately above the drawbar pinrthe pin must be inserted from below and held in place by a usual keeper plate (not shown). The plate is normally inserted on top of a drawbar pin keeper strut 86', Fig. 16, said strut being positioned between the housing sides 18 and 1I and welded thereto. The strut has an opening 81' through which the drawbar vpin is inserted before the keeper plate is bolted in position on the strut.

To reinforce the side pieces 10 and 1I, there is provided on the outer side of each a vertical angle iron 99 having suitable recesses 9| to permit tongues 80 to project through the openings 8l when assembled therewith. Tank valve wells 92 and 93, Fig. 3, are formed on each side of the side pieces 18 and 1I. These wells are identical in construction, and hence the description of one will suiiice forA the other. As shown in Fig. 21, the well comprises a U-piece' 94 having a valve opening 95. One end of the U-piece is closed by a combined end closure and bracket member 96 abutting against the edge of angle SII. The other end of the U-piece is closed by a. member 91, thereby completing the well. The upper edge of the well structure is suitably inclined so as to abut the under side of the inclined bottom 9 as shown in Fig. 3. A reinforcing bottom plate 98 may be provided at the bottom of the well. All of the foregoing parts are `welded together to form a single integral unit.

To provide a simplified spring buffer pocket, I have combined the same with my improved draft rigging housing side pieces 10 and 1I by extending the same forwardly and thence upwardly as indicated at IUI), Figs. 18 and 21. The rear edges IIJI of these projections extend vertically for contact with a spring abutment plate |02. This plate is supported against the forward ends of the two center sills 3, 3 and between the upper flange of end'sill 4 and a filler piece |03 which is inserted between the lower flange of the end sill and the bottom of the center sills. Top and bottom plates |04 and |05 are located between a projection |00 and abut against back. plate |02, thereby forming a pocket for a buffer spring not shown. 'I'he forward ends of top and bottom plates |04 and |05 are rounded at their forward end as at |06 while a reinforcing band |01 surrounds the outer end of the pocket. All of the foregoing parts are welded entirely or partly along their lines of juncture or otherwise suitably secured together.

Suitable lateral bracket members for the spring pocket are provided at |09 and ||0, Fig. 3, located oneach side oi the pocket are shown in Fig. 3.

Rear draft rigging housing.-As shown in Fig. 6, the inner sides of the lower anges of the center sills 3, 3 terminate at ||2 and are slightly notched as at ||3 to receive side pieces ||4 and H5, Figs. 6 and 22. Inasmuch as the side pieces ||4 and I5 are identical except that they are adapted for left and right hand positions, the description of one will sufilce for both. The piece A||4 has a lower horizontal ilanged edge I|6 and an inclined unanged edge ||1, Fig. 23. The upper edge of the side piece is provided with an .outwardly turned flange 6 projecting through a suitable notch in the web of the center sill as shown in Fig. 22. A hole 9 is provided inthe side piece and center sill web to permit iiow of water therethrough. Lugs or stops |20, Figs. 6 and .23, for the follower plates of the usual type of draitrigging are positioned at the end of the lower horizontal anged edge i I6, or more precisely at the juncture of said edge and the inclined edge ||1, Fig. 23. The stops |20 are provided with tongues |2| received in suitable notches in the side piece ||4. To further reinforce the stops, a vertical plate |22, Fig. 6, is placed against the side face of'member ||4 while intermediate and lower brackets |23 and |24, Figs. 6 and 23, restl against plate |22 and i stop |20. To reinforce the unflanged inclined edge H1, a rib |25 is secured to the inner side of side pieces |I4. All of the foregoing parts are entirely or partially welded along their lines of juncture or otherwise suitably secured or formed together.

Outer' follower plate stops |26, Fig. 6, are provided on the inner faces of each side-piece ||4 and H5. These stops are notched in said side pieces and are otherwise similar to the inner stops |20 except that a recess |21 is formed in stops i 26 to permit full travel of the coupler key. Upper and lower verticall extending angle braces |28 are welded to side piece 4 and stop |26 for additional reinforcements thereof. angle brackets |28 are spaced slightly apart to permit the coupler key to pass freely through its opening |28, and horizontal' triangular pieces- |28' (Figs. 6, 22 and 23) are welded between the edges of the coupler key opening and the ends of angle brackets |28.

The bottom cover plate 8 is oi course slotted as at |30, Fig. 6, in alignment with the notches ||3 to permit the side pieces ||4 to extend upwardly through the bottom. The remaining center portion |,3I of the bottom plate is bent upwardly and extends forwardly between the side pieces and rests uponthe upper edges of the stops 20 and |26. This portion |3| terminates adjacent the outer vertical edge of the side pieces The H4. The purpose of raising the elevationpf member |3|' is to permit the center line of the draft rigging to be located at the standard height. In certain cases it may not be necessary to raise the elevation of portion |3|, in which case this would remain on the same plane as the remaining portion of bottom plate 9. To support the center offset portion |3I, there is provided an angle iron |32, Fig. 6, welded to the bottom plate 9 and the inclined portion of the center member |3|.

The center sills 3, Fig. 6, are inclined as `at |35. Abutting against the entire ends of the end sills and extending down along the vertical edge of side pieces ||4 is a. combined striking plate and coupler carrying iron. The lower end of the plate 36 is flanged under as at |31, Fig. 23. A bracket |38 is disposed transversely behind the plate |36 to reinforceit where the horn of the coupler strikes a wearing plate |39. A transverse angle piece |40 is supported upon the ange |-31 and also upon the lower edge of a coupler opening |4| to act as a Wearing plate for the coupler shank. A suitable triangular rib |42 may be positioned behind the angle piece |40 and the lower edges of nanges lr6 of side pieces 4 and ||5. All of the foregoing parts are as previously mentioned many times, partially or entirely welded along their lines, of juncture or otherwise suitably secured or formed together.

Suitable openings |50 are provided at any desirable location in the various members of the underframe so as to connect the several compartments formed `between the structural members, thereby permitting the water to have free passage between said compartments and equalize the water level.

In Figs. 1 to 4, improved transversely disposed coal slide guide stiifeners or braces |43 are provided adjacent each transverse edge of a series of openings |46 in the coal space iioo'r |45 overlying a usual chamber` |46a in which a usual stoker conveyor (not shown) is disposed. As is customary, coal is fed by gravity successively through said openings which are opened one at a time .by means of usual movable sectional slides |41 supported between guides |48 with their re.

taining plates |49. Heretofore these openings have not been reinforced because of the objection to obstructing or of retarding flow of coal -to the openings and of making it diilicult to shovel the coal from the coal space oor |45 in case the fireman vis required to supplement the action of the stoker by touching up the re. Hence the narrow strips of plate |45 between the several openings |46 have heretofore been subject to considerable vibration and stresses, resulting in leaks at the juncture between this floor sheet and the walls forming the Water containing portions of the tank. To repair such leaks has increased maintenance costs. However, in my improved combination I overcome all of the foregoing objections by providing the braces I 43 in the form of inverted angle irons disposed over each stripof iioor plate left between openings' |46, the ends of the angle iron being attened as at |44 and welded to the iloor plate |45. The flattened ends not only provide a large contact surface with the iloor plate but also increase the available welding area between the angle iron and iloox' in the event that these members are welded together. By reason of the bevelled upper surface of these braces, they not only function to give maximum rigidity to the structure but also minimum obstruction to the flow of coal through the openings |48 and also permit the edge of a shovel to readily pass thereover.

From the foregoing disclosure it is seen that l I have provided a combination whose component elements are so formed and interrelated that their cooperative action effects a compact, sturdy and lightweight structure capable lof insuring maximum water capacity together with maximum strength for the welded joints.

It will of course be understood vthat various changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. I claim: l l. A car underframe comprising, in combina-4 tion, a center sill, and a bolsterhaving two sets of transverse members, said sets being longitudinally spaced apart and each set having'upper and lower T-members located respectively above and below said center sill, the stems of said T-members being in opposed relation to each other, a transversely extending I-beam having its flanges operatively connected respectivelyto the stems of each set of T-members whereby the web of said I-beam lies horizontally, and side bearing means associated with the web of said I-beam whereby the truck side bearing projects upwardly l between the lower -T-members.

42. A car underframe comprising, in combination, an I-beam center sill.' a bottom cover plate extending beneath said center sill, a forward draw bar housing having side pieces with hanged. portions extending through said bottom cover, means'for securing said side pieces to said center sill, and bottom and intermediate plates extending transversely between said side pieces and provided with a tongue and slot connection therewith.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 further characterized by the provision of a drawbar pin bushing disposed in a recess formed in said bottom cover, and other similar bushings' disposed in recesses in the plates which are connected t'o the side pieces. v

4. A car underframe comprising, in combination, a center sill and end sill, a forward drawbar housing having side pieces supported by said center sill and plates extending transversely between and connected to said side pieces, pieces each having a forwardly and upwardly proiecting portion to form the sides of a buifer spring pocket. and transverse top and bottom plates disposed between said portions to complete said pocket.

5. A car underframe comprising, in combination, an I-beam end sill having an opening in its web. a. center sill extending through said opening.

a forward draw bar housing supported by said center sill and having side piece portions extending forward and upwar -in front of the end of said center sill, top and bottom plates disposed transversely between said portions to form a buffer spring pocket, and means providing la backing wall for said pocket against the end of said center sill.

' non, an end sin having 6. A car underframe comprising, in combinaan opening therein, a pair of parallel I-bms forming a center sill extending through said opening, a pair of side pieeessupportedbytheinnersidesofsaidrside sill bottom cover beams to form a rear draft 'rigging housing, and a plate extending down across the ends of said I-beams and side pieces. v

7. The 'combination set forthin claim 6 further characterized bv the provision lof follower plate stops formed on the inner surface of each of said side pieces, and a lower plate cover extending beneath rsaid center extending over the top of said stops.

8. The combination set forth in claim 6 further sill and having a portioncharacterized in that the inner sides of the lower flanges of the center sill 'I-beams are cut away, whereby said side pieces lie ush againstl the web of said I-beams.

9. A tender underframe comprising, in comhorizontal ilanges, structural channel substantially horizontal anges, holsters connecting saidv center and side sills. and a fiat plate metal water bottom -covei' for carrying the water load of the tender, said plate cover extending .continuously fromone side sill to the other side sill and resting on the top of the lower channelfianges and extending beneath and in contact with the under side of the lower horizontal flange of the center sill, said bottom plate being secured to said center sill lower flange to be supported thereby and being welded to the lower side sill channel flange.

10.A'tender underframe comprising, in coinbination, a structural center sill having upper and lower horizontal flanges, structural channel side sills having upper and lower flanges whose lower flange is tapered so as to have an upper. surface inclined downwardly toward the lower portion of the center sill, bolsters connecting said center and side sills, and a substantially flat plate metal water bottom'cover for carrying the water load of the tener, said plate cover extending continuously from one side sill to the other side sill and resting on the inclined upper surface of the lower side sill flange and extending beneath and substantially bination, a structural center sill havingv upper and 'lower members forming side sills with upper and lower'- in substantial supporting engagement with the said side sills are plane ofthe lower horizontal flange of the center sill, and the bolster is formed of upper and lower T members with their stems in opposed relation to each other, the lower T member being so formed adjacent the side sills that the flange of the lower T member and the lower `anges of the side sills lie substantially in a common horizontal plane, and the transverse edge of the plate metal in extending continuously from one side sill tothe other side sill rests on the upper surface of the flanges of the lower T member.

12. The combination set forth in claim 9 further characterized in that the bolster has a lower horizontal ilange extending substantially from bolster flange.

um l. 51cm. 

